You Should Smile More Format: Hardback

You Should Smile More: How to Dismantle Gender Bias in the Workplace empowers women and men to unlock a culture of greatness in the workforce—one little thing at a time. Written by six C-suite women with a collective resume covering 29 industries, the book offers a completely new lens through which to talk about and tackle the stubborn remnants of gender bias at work.

“In the business world, barriers to inclusion are barriers to success,” states a line from the book’s Introduction. “Diversity breeds better solutions faster if people feel comfortable in their environment.” But from small indignities to unconscious slights, women experience situations at work every day that may seem small or unimportant but that effectively differentiate and exclude them. These are not #MeToo moments - they are micro-offenses; the small, awkward, or uncomfortable moments that slow-build until the unwelcome environment takes hold and women disengage.

Situations the authors address range from things like use of the term “girl” versus “woman,” watching male colleagues leave work for a social event where women colleagues were left off the invite list or hearing that a qualified woman shouldn’t be offered an assignment because she has small children at home. You Should Smile More shows witnesses, allies, supervisors, and women at every level in their careers how to dismantle everyday gender bias, based upon the latest research, personal accounts, and interviews with dozens of professionals, both women and men.

Widely known as a meme, the title itself is now a call-to-action against the very advice women so frequently hear from male colleagues or bosses. The authors spotlight these all-too-familiar moments, offering realistic strategies every witness can use to confront and productively address them. The information within the book finally advances women in the corporate workplace as equals and advances organizations on the path to creating cultures of true inclusion.

The authors call themselves “The Band of Sisters” and have collectively seen it all, from the bottom rung to the boardroom. They know firsthand how hard it is to navigate these gendered situations in the moment.  Now they share their experience with a forward-looking eye -- often with humor, and in a way that recognizes the realities of the workplace.

With this book as a guide, The Band of Sisters are ready to:

+      Help anyone to recognize and effectively respond to these micro-moments rooted in gender bias.

+      Pave the way for their ultimate elimination, through shared participation.

+      Allow organizations to build high-performance cultures that truly value and include diverse perspectives and experiences. 

Gender bias has been part of our workplaces for too long. We are at the point now where all of us who are in the workplace, around conference tables, water coolers and in Zoom meetings, must make the next push for real change.

Cie Nicholson is an investor, and advisor to a number of start-up companies, a speaker, and a founding member of “The “Band of Sisters” after spending 11 years at PepsiCo in marketing positions, including Chief Marketing Officer, Pepsi-Cola N.A.  After PepsiCo, she served as EVP and CMO of Equinox, SVP and CMO of Softcard (fintech start-up acquired by Google).  

She presently serves as public board director for Selective Insurance and served as a private board member for Heartland Food Group and the ANA (Association of National Advertisers).

Cie earned her BS at the University of Illinois and her MBA at Indiana University.

Cie lives in NYC however she is on a 20-year quest (2015-2035) to do handstands all over the world - Instagram @cienicholson

Mitzi Short, an executive coach and speaker, is the Co-Founder and CEO of New Season Coaching & Consulting Group, and a founding member of “The Band of Sisters,” after spending 25 years at PepsiCo in sales, operations, and marketing leadership roles, including PepsiCo Customer Team VP/GM and VP of Multicultural Marketing. Mitzi also serves as an Adjunct Executive Coach for the Center for Creative Leadership and for the University of Oregon’s Executive MBA Program.  

She is a Fund for Education Abroad Board Member and former member of   Davidson College’s Board of Trustees, The Executive Leadership Council, and GOLFTEC’s Franchise Advisory Board

Mitzi earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Davidson College and M.B.A. from the University of Oregon.

Mitzi is a big sports fan who loves traveling, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends.  In addition, she is a GOLFTEC Franchise Owner and contributing author of Teeing Up for Success.

Katie Lacey is a former CEO and General Manager, a speaker, and a founding member of “The “Band of Sisters” after spending 12 years at PepsiCo in a variety of marketing roles at both Frito-Lay and Pepsi Cola. After leaving PepsiCo she served as SVP, Marketing for ESPN. 

She most recently served as President & CEO of Crane Stationery, where she led a turnaround of the iconic 200-year-old business and the successful sale of the company. 

Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Presently, Katie lives in NYC where she serves as a Board member of wellness brand, Designer Protein. 

Lori Tauber Marcus is a corporate board director, executive coach, and founding member of “The “Band of Sisters” after spending 24 years at PepsiCo in multiple roles, including Senior Vice President, Marketing Activation.  After PepsiCo, she served as SVP, CMO of The Children’s Place Retail Stores, EVP, Chief Global Brand & Product Officer at Keurig Green Mountain, and Interim Global CMO, Peloton Interactive. She also served for several years as the leader of the direct-to-patient workstream at Harvard Business School’s Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator.    

Lori also has significant Board experience and presently sits on the boards of Fresh Del Monte Produce and 24-Hour Fitness. 

She earned her BS from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Lori lives in Connecticut and is a health and fitness nut. You can find her most mornings riding her Peloton bike at the crack of dawn.

Angelique Bellmer Krembs is the Global Head of Brand at BlackRock and a founding member of “The Band of Sisters,” after 23 years at PepsiCo, leading turnaround and growth for many beloved brands, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and SoBe, and a variety of cross-divisional leadership roles. After PepsiCo, she was CMO at News America Marketing, a division of News Corp, then created a “Fractional CMO” practice across a portfolio of startups and emerging brands before joining BlackRock as Global Head of Brand. 

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. 

Angelique passionately believes in “performance with purpose,” and that great business results and high functioning teams always "start with why.”